Compare towns
Bellingham vs Blackstone vs Norton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Norton has the most expensive homes ($501k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bellingham | Blackstone | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410 |
9,255Lowest |
19,240Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA |
39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Blackstone and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1% MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
$124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
| Bellingham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13k 20% below MA |
$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA |
$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196 4% above MA |
$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
| Norton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
$5,929Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #232 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Blackstone-Millville | Norton |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
13.6Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.